The L.A. Roadster Show - Happy Fathers' Weekend - Expanded For Web

Father's Day for a lot of guys starts with a bedside serving of charcoal toast or runny eggs, followed by a day in the hammock or a picnic at the park. For hot rodders in Southern California, and a few from everywhere else, the entire weekend is dedicated to Southern California's premier springtime car show, the L.A. Roadster Show.

The L.A. Roadsters Car Club has hosted this event for 44 years. Last year was the club's golden anniversary, and the members pulled out all the stops for the event in honor of the occasion. This year, the stops stayed out. Way out.

In order to get your ride through the gate, it must be a '36-or-earlier open car-roadster or cabriolet-and it must be "finished," which by Roadsters Club rules means glossy paint. If your hot rod doesn't fit the criteria, all is not lost. Pre-'75 vehicles, topless or topped, shiny or suede, are welcome on the other side of the fence in what has come to be called "preferred parking," and which has become as much a part of the Roadster Show as the "inside" show. We've known people to drive or haul their cars halfway across the country to be part of the "outside" action.

Of course, a lot of people never get past the swap meet area, which seems to stretch farther every year. If you make it through there with cash left in your pocket, the inside vendor area provides many more chances to spend it. Most of the West Coast's best-known builders, and aftermarket companies from all over the U.S., make the trip to Los Angeles in June.

R&C was there, as always. Tim starts us out with his photo report from the inside, and keep reading for Kev's highlights from outside the fence.

2/89Talk about the evolution of a hot rod! Mike Smith from NorCal built this as a pickup for a customer-you may remember it painted army green with a star on the door-then rebuilt it with this coupe body after a wreck, keeping the old paint but chopping the roof. Mike then bought it, changed the wheels and tires and frontend, and added the blown motor.

Outside The FenceAs usual, the preferred parking area at the show was jammed with everything that either wasn't a roadster or was but didn't wear gloss paint. Combine this with the swap meet area that had been enlarged this year, but interestingly saw a number of empty spots (could gas prices have kept some away? We know it's making vendors think twice about attending shows), and many people never even make it through the gates into the actual show itself, or at least not until the second day.

The swap meet is my personal favorite section of the Roadster Show, with cars and parts coming out of the woodwork for the event. It's a clich, but where else would you find some of this stuff for sale-like a complete Ardun motor, rare speed equipment, or even some of the projects on offer. The prices are traditionally a little greater here, and some a lot greater, but there are still deals to be had if you haggle and know what you're looking for. Here's what caught my eye.